On his first day back in office, in one of 26 executive orders, President Trump declared an “energy emergency,” arming himself with extra-legal powers to enable more oil and gas production. This pronouncement came after a year the U.S. produced the most oil and gas in its history, or, for that matter, the history of every other country in the world.
In the six weeks since the inauguration, up is still down, science still fiction, and chaos rules rampant.
And given the pace of Presidential orders and directives, it’s hard to separate bluster from action, and know where to focus.
For all of us who care about the climate crisis, environmental health and justice, and the world we leave the next generation, what is it that’s really happened so far, what’s threatened next, and how do we best fight back? Wtf is going on?!
We don’t know all the answers, but we do know some things. Let’s break it down, and try to understand what’s at stake for our communities in Michigan and beyond.
Starting with that Day One action, what’s the real-world impact of the energy emergency order, and the three other environment-related orders (which are meant to make it easier to get federal project approvals, drill more oil and gas on Alaska public lands, and leave the global climate treaty)? The Administration said the measures were meant to guarantee a steady supply of power, and lower energy prices for consumers. In reality, they boost demand for oil and gas, which will push prices up. For Michigan communities, it imperils our clean energy transition, makes manufacturers think twice about investing in renewable energy and electric vehicles, and speeds up approvals for the Line 5 pipeline.
Soon after Day One, Elon Musk and his DOGE tech team were given unprecedented and probably illegal access to the inner workings of government agencies, issuing orders to fire employees en masse. What’s the real-world impact of firing workers at the EPA and federal science institutions, which have been put on the chopping blocks early? EPA is the agency that enforces the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, and all our environmental laws and regulations. They’re supposed to protect the Great Lakes, our drinking water, our air quality, and our kids from toxic chemicals. The science agencies do the vital research that EPA and many other agencies depend on to protect human health.
At the same time, the Administration froze federal grant payments to agencies working on climate and environmental justice projects around the country, tore down federal web pages with vital scientific data, and effectively banned 208 words from all government publications, including “equality,” “racism,” and “women.” They’re too woke, apparently.
It’s harder to say what’s the real-world impact of breaking government contracts with community organizations and businesses, ghosting scientific data, and abolishing words from federal documents. But they clearly undermine trust in government, and put targets on the backs of science and free speech.
One thing is certain. There’s no environmental health and justice without laws and democracy, without science, without free speech. These are the fundamental precepts of all of our work.
Many of our colleagues and partners – in organizations and communities across Michigan and the United States – are under intense duress right now. Some have lost critical funding, and have been forced to shut down programs and lay off staff. Some have employees or beneficiaries who are threatened by the immigration crackdown. Even one of the world’s largest environmental organizations – Greenpeace USA – is now threatened with bankruptcy by a speech-chilling SLAPP suit brought against them by a billion-dollar oil and gas pipeline company.
The Ecology Center will stand by these organizations and our partners, and offer our steadfast support. These are unprecedented times; we expect to be confronted by unprecedented pressures. We will continue to fight at the local and state level to buffer the impacts from federal attacks. And we will join with colleagues – inside and out of the environmental health and justice movement – to fight for democracy, rule of law, science, and speech. Our commitment to these principles will not waver.
We’ll keep you posted over the coming days, weeks, and months on ways to support the fight for environmental health and justice, democracy, science, and free speech. Right now, here are three actions to take:
- Stand up for Science. Today, Friday, March 7, in Washington DC, state capitols, and other communities all over the country, workers and others will walk off the job at 12:00 noon to stand up for science. There are rallies organized in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Lansing, and more – check here for the latest information.
- Call your Member of Congress. Tell them to OPPOSE any cuts to environmental enforcement and public health, and that you want the full release of all federal funds legally appropriated by Congress, keeping the staff who are carrying out these critical programs. Even if you know they stand with us already, it helps them to know their constituents care enough to call.
- Support Greenpeace in its Fight Against the Big Oil SLAPP Suit. Greenpeace USA is facing a $300 million SLAPP lawsuit from Energy Transfer, the oil giant behind the Dakota Access Pipeline. You can learn more and get involved every Thursday through their “Protest on Trial” virtual events.